Slidable vehicle roof assembly

ABSTRACT

A sliding roof section for vehicles including a panel which is pivotally supported at the front, and supported at the rear by means of a support member which may move, with the roof, both horizontally and vertically so that when the rear of the panel is lowered, the panel may be slid rearwardly under the stationary part of the roof. Additionally, the rear of the panel may be moved upwardly from its normally closed position to provide ventilation.

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventor Alfred SchmidMunich-Furstenried, West Germany Appl. No. 818,943

United States Patent PATENYEU MARS 0 |971 Fig.:

28 NH23 27 22 20 /V Inventor:

Alfred Schmid by A orney SLIIDABLE VEHICLE ROOF ASSEMBLY The inventionrelates to a sliding roof for vehicles, and more especially to a roof ofthe kind provided with a panel fitted in an aperture in the roof whichcan be lowered from the panel at its rear end and moved rearwardly toslide under a stationary part of the roof, during which operation it iscarried at each side of its forward end by a guide member running in aguide, each guide member being provided with a pivot about which thepanel can be swung upwards out of the plane of the roof, within alimited range.

A slidable roof of the above described kind is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,033,608, but inv addition to a slidable panel, there isincorporated a second roof part, which substantially closes the openingin the roof, and which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction.Although this second part is constructed to be outwardly pivotablerelatively easily, it is not only necessary to have a comparativelybulky mechanism, but also the outward pivoting movement can only beeffected after the roof has been thrust rearwardly.

In order to obviate this last-named disadvantage, it has been proposedto construct a panel which is disposed in a roof opening and which,after unlocking, can be displaced into a pocket in that part of thereinforcing frame which lies at the front, (within reference to thedirection of travel) and to guide the said panel at the sides in such away that, in the displaced condition, the rear part of the panel is atan acute angle to the plane of the roof, after the fashion of a winddetlector. However, this gives rise, inter alia, to the disadvantagesthat the roof can only be used for ventilation, and that rapidventilation by opening the roof, for example after the car has beenstanding in the sun for a considerable period is not possible.

The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle roof of thekind initially referred to in such a way that the entire panel may bepivoted outwards in a stable manner, and thus draught-free ventilationofthe car, even at high speed of travel, can be achieved without usingan additional wind deflector. lt is a further object to retain thefacility of opening the roof by displacing the panel under a stationarypart of the roof.

With this end in view the invention consists in a slidable vehicle-roofcomprising a panel displaceably accommodated in an aperture in the roof,and, when lowered atits rear end from said aperture, slidable to aposition beneath a fixed part of the roof, wherein adjacent to the rearend of the panel is a supporting or operating component connected tosaid panel, or movable between an upper position where it lifts thepanel into a closed position in said aperture, and a lower positionwhere it is horizontally movable and causes the panel to move with it.

The rear end of the panel may be connected to the cross member by levermembers consisting, in each case, of one lever connected between thepanel and the crosspiece, each lever being attached to the crosspiece bya pin connected to the end of the lever and arranged in a slotted guide,the latter being disposed in such a way that, during horizontal movementof the crosspiece in raised position, the guide slot first slides alongthe pin and, by its end, moves the `latter from a prearranged positionin the direction of the front end of the panel. As a result of thislost-motion connection of the crosspiece which initially has no effecton the outward pivoting of the panel adjustment of the drive mechanismis made considerably easier, since for the closed position of the panel,which lies between the position of the panel when swung upwards out ofthe plane of the roof, and the position when swung down out of the planeof the roof for sliding, there is available not only a quite specificposition of the drive, but also a selectable range.

A further advantage of the aforesaid lost-motion in the liftingoperation lies in the fact, which is particularly necessary in the caseof more forceful closure of the roof and thus larger lever members, thatit is possible to fasten lifting members on the crosspiece which engageon parts of the levers, when the crosspiece is moved in the raisedcondition, in such a way asto cause lifting of those ends of the leverswhich are nearest the panel. As a result of this, the levers, whichusually lie very flat and thus having a locking effect, are brought intoa more favorable position for the outward pivoting of the panel, i.c. aposition where less force is required.

It is advantageous to construct the crosspiece with one or more rainchannels and provide it with outlets into the rain gutters at the sidesof the vehicle. Thus, even when the car is stationary and the panel ispivoted outwards, no water enters the car.

For satisfactory functioning of the lifting mechanism, there ispreferably provided, between the panel and the crosspiece, a springdevice which, as viewed from the crosspiece, presses the panel in aforward direction. By this means, outward pivoting of the panel when thelever members are lowered, is prevented. However, the outward pivotingmovement can also be prevented by suitable guides which do not releasethe panel until the crosspiece has passed through the above describedrange which is ineffective as regards the outward pivoting of the panel.To a preferred construction, the spring device consists of two springs,each of which is located in a tube articulated tothe panel, and pressesagainst a piston which is guided in the tube and connected to thecrosspiece.

The crosspiece may be guided in known manner by guide shoes in guiderails mounted at the sides of the roof. In this connection it isadvantageous if the crosspiece is connected to the guide shoe carriersby at least one, but preferably two links in each case, which arepivoted both to the crosspiece and also to the guide show carrier.

In the following description, one exemplified embodiment of theinvention will now be described, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and other features of the invention will be mentioned. In thedrawings:

FIG. l illustrates, in plan View, a slidable roof panel in accordancewith the invention in partly open state;

FIG. 2 shows a section along the lines [I-II in FIG. l, on an enlargedscale;

FIG. 3. shows a side view, observed from the rain channel, when thepanel is pivoted outwards; and

FIG. 4 is a top-view along the lines IV-IV of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. i, a panel l of a vehicle roof 2 is seated in andcloses an aperture 3, from which it can be displaced to slide rearwardlyunder a stationary part 4l of the roof 2. Drive is effected with the aidof a crank 5 and cables, which are sufficiently stiff to resistcompression, and are guided in tubes 6, 7, and by rods or bars 8, 9which are telcscoped and guided in tubes l0, I l.

As seen in FIG. 3, the rod or bar 8 moves a carrier shoe I6 which isguided by lugs 13, 14 in a rail l5 and is articulated to a crosspiece i9by two links I7, I8.

FIG. 2 shows the mechanism for outward pivoting of the panel I,comprising a slotted guide 20 opstanding from the crosspiece 19, inwhich slot is engaged in pin 22 connected to a lever 2i which is pivotedto a lug or bracket beneath the panel l near to its rear end. When thecrosspiece I9 is moved forwards, the guide slot 20 first slides over thepin 22 as far as the rear stop and then moves the lever 2l about itspivot, causing the panel l to rock upwards. By means of a lifting memberin the form of a rib or corrugation 23 located adjacent to the guideslot 20, the lever 2i may be raised slightly just before the slot 20displaces the pin 22, when the crosspiece I9 is moved.

The device is operated as follows:

When the panel is in its closed position (FIG. 2) the crosspiece 19 isheld in an upper position by the carrier slides I6, (with their togglelevers in the position shown in FIG. 3), but the lever 2l is insubstantially horizontal position (FIG. 2) so that the panel occupiesits aperture. To displace the panel in order to open the aperture thecarriers )i6 are moved rearwardly by the rods d, 9 actuated by the crank5, and the initial result is that the toggle levers swing down abouttheir pivots 13, 14 to substantially horizontal positions, lowering thecrossmember 19, and with it also lowering the rear end of the panel lbeneath the adjacent fixed roof edge. Upon further rearward movement,the carriers I6 draw after them the crossmember t9 which draws thelowered panel l beneath the fixed roof. Return movement of the carriers16 recloses the panel in its aperture by the same sequence of`operations in reverse.

When in its closed position FIG. 2 the panel l can be tilted to itsraised position (FIG. 3) by actuating the rods 8, 9 to move the carriers16, and with them the crossmembers 19, forwardly (Le. leftwards as seenin FIG. 2) until the slot 20 elevates the lever 21 (FIG. 3) as describedabove.

A spring device, consisting of a tube 25 pivotally attached to a bracketat 24, housing a spring 26 and a piston 27, (and which, as shown in FIG.I, may be in duplicate, one adjacent to each side of the panel),prevents not only premature outward pivoting of the panel l, but alsopremature lowering of the crosspiece 19, when the latter, in theposition shown in FIG. 3, is moved rearwards by the guide carrier 16. lnthis movement, the crosspiece 19 would be lowered by the links R7, I8,if there were no followup thrust by the spring device 25-27, which isconnected to the crosspiece 19 by a ba'r 28. Only after lowering of thepanel l, (that is to say when the pin 22 in the slot guide 20 is locatedat the forward end of the slot 20, and the spring device 25-27 cannotpush the crosspiece back any further), can there occur, (as a result ofthe further movement of the carrier I6 due to the pivoting of the linksI7, I8) a lowering of the crosspiece i9 and thus at the same time alowering of the panel l, (which may subsequently be drawn by thecrosspiece 19 to a position under the stationary part 4 of the roof.During the reverse movement, the raising of the crosspiece may beprevented, before the closed position of the panel l is reached, inknown manner, such as, by means of a guide (not shown) which does notrelease the crosspiece I9 until the panel l is in the closed position.

As seen in FIG. 3, the front guide member, which is here shown as asliding carrier 29, and slides in the rail l5, is attached to the panel1 on a pivot axis 30 about which the panel l can be swung upwards out ofthe plane of the roof, within a limited range.

As seen in FIG. 2, the crosspiece may be formed with rain channels,having outlets leading to the lateral rain gutters, indicated by 3l and32 in FIG. ll, conventional in a vehicle roof.

The invention is not limited solely to the constructional detailsillustrated, but may be modified and supplemented in various wayswithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

lclaim:

l. A movable section for a vehicle roof including:

a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof in a first position;

b. support means near the front of said panel to which said panel ispivotally attached;

c. said support means being carried by a guide member;

d. means movable both horizontally and vertically for supporting therear of said panel;

e. means for moving said rear support means vertically;

f. means for moving said rear support means horizontally;

g. whereby said rear support means and said panel may be lowered out ofthe plane of said roof and moved rearwardly under the stationary portionof' said roof to a second position;

h. said means for moving said rear support means vertically including alost-motion linkage; and

i. whereby moving said rear support means horizontally forward moves therear of said panel from the closed position upwardly out of the plane ofsaid roof.

2. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 1 and including aspring means between said panel and said rear support means for biasingsaid panel in a forward direction.

3. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim l and wherein; saidlost-motion linkage includes a pin-in-slot connection.

4. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 3 and wherein; saidrear support means includes a crosspiece laterally disposed of saidroof. L

. A movable section for a vehicle root as in claim 18 and including;spring means between said panel and said rear support means for biasingsaid panel in a forward direction.

6. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 5 and wherein saidspring means includes:

a. a cylinder attached at one end to said panel;

b. a piston in said cylinder and having a piston rod attached to saidrear support means; and

c. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of saidcylinder.

7. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 5 and including; arain gutter formed in said rear support means and having an outlet intoa lateral rain gutter of the vehicle.

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 7 and including; railsfor guiding the horizontal movement of said rear support means.

9. A movable section for a vehicle roof including:

a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof in a first position and ableto be lowered at its rear out of said plane and moved rearwardly under astationary portion of said roof to a second position;

b. first support means being pivotally attached to the front end portionof said panel for allowing a limited pivotal displacement of the frontend portion upwards about a pivot-axis provided by said support means,out of the plane of the roof to a third position;

c. said first support means being carried by a guiding member;

d. a crosspiece located beneath the rear portion of the panel andhorizontally movable on guides that are laterally disposed of said roof;

e. means for moving said crosspiece horizontally; and

f. second support means movable both horizontally and vertically forpivoting the rear of said panel in said third position by moving saidcrosspiece horizontally in relation to the panel, when the panel is insaid first position.

l0. A movable section for a vehicle roof as set forth in claim 9 andwherein:

a. said means for moving said-crosspiece vertically include alost-motion linkage; and

b. whereby moving said crosspiece horizontally forward moves the rear ofsaid panel from the closed position upwardly out of the plane of saidroof.

il. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim l0 including springmeans between said panel and said crosspiece for biasing said panel in aforward direction.

l2. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim l0 and wherein;said lost motion linkage include a pin-in-slot connection.

I3. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim l2 and including aspring means between said panel and said crosspiece for biasing saidpanel in a forward direction.

ld. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim I3 and wherein saidspring means include:

a. a cylinder attached at one end to said panel;

b. a piston in said cylinder and having a piston rod attached to saidcrosspiece; and

c. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of saidcylinder.

l5. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim I3 and including arain gutter fonned in said crosspiece and having an outlet into alateral rain gutter of the vehicle.

16. A movable section for a vehicle roof asin claim l5 and includingrails for guiding the horizontal movement of said crosspiece.

1. A movable section for a vehicle roof including: a. a panel lying inthe plane of said roof in a first position; b. support means near thefront of said panel to which said panel is pivotally attached; c. saidsupport means being carried by a guide member; d. means movable bothhorizontally and vertically for supporting the rear of said panel; e.means for moving said rear support means vertically; f. means for movingsaid rear support means horizontally; g. whereby said rear support meansand said panel may be lowered out of the plane of said roof and movedrearwardly under the stationary portion of said roof to a secondposition; h. said means for moving said rear support means verticallyincluding a lost-motion linkage; and i. whereby moving said rear supportmeans horizontally forward moves the rear of said panel from the closedposition upwardly out of the plane of said roof.
 2. A movable sectionfor a vehicle roof as in claim 1 and including a spring means betweensaid panel and said rear support means for biasing said panel in aforward direction.
 3. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 1and wherein; said lost-motion linkage includes a pin-in-slot connection.4. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 3 and wherein; saidrear support means includes a crosspiece laterally disposed of saidroof.
 5. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 4 andincluding; spring means between said panel and said rear support meansfor biasing said panel in a forward direction.
 6. A movable section fora vehicle roof as in claim 5 and wherein said spring means includes: a.a cylinder attached at one end to said panel; b. a piston in saidcylinder and having a piston rod attached to said rear support means;and c. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of saidcylinder.
 7. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 5 andincluding; a rain gutter formed in said rear support means and having anoutlet into a lateral rain gutter of the vehicle.
 8. A movable sectionfor a vehicle roof as in claim 7 and including; rails for guiding thehorizontal movement of said rear support means.
 9. A movable section fora vehicle roof including: a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof ina first position and able to be lowered at its rear out of said planeand moved rearwardly under a stationary portion of said roof to a secondposition; b. first support means being pivotally attached to the frontend portion of said panel for allowing a limited pivotal displacement ofthe front end portion upwards about a pivot-axis provided by saidsupport means, out of the plane of the roof to a third position; c. saidfirst support means being carried by a guiding member; d. a crosspiecelocated beneath the rear portion of the panel and horizontally movableon guides that are laterally disposed of said roof; e. means for movingsaid crosspiece horizontally; and f. second support means movable bothhorizontally and vertically for pivoting the rear of said panel in saidthird position by moving said crosspiece horizontally in relation to thepanel, when the panel is in said first position.
 10. A movable sectionfor a vehicle roof as set forth in claim 9 and wherein: a. said meansfor moving said crosspiece vertically include a lost-motion linkage; andb. whereby moving said crosspiece horizontally forward moves the rear ofsaid panel from the closed position upwardly out of the plane of saidroof.
 11. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 10 includingspring means between said panel and said crosspiece for biasing saidpanel in a forward direction.
 12. A movable section for a vehicle roofas in claim 10 and wherein; said lost motion linkaGe include apin-in-slot connection.
 13. A movable section for a vehicle roof as inclaim 12 and including a spring means between said panel and saidcrosspiece for biasing said panel in a forward direction.
 14. A movablesection for a vehicle roof as in claim 13 and wherein said spring meansinclude: a. a cylinder attached at one end to said panel; b. a piston insaid cylinder and having a piston rod attached to said crosspiece; andc. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of saidcylinder.
 15. A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 13 andincluding a rain gutter formed in said crosspiece and having an outletinto a lateral rain gutter of the vehicle.
 16. A movable section for avehicle roof as in claim 15 and including rails for guiding thehorizontal movement of said crosspiece.